ContactStageManagerDoubt@gmail.com to request an audition time and to receive an audition package that includes a conflict calendar, character breakdowns, and monologue selections. In your email, please include the role for which you are auditioning.

Rehearsals: Until closer to the production dates, rehearsals will be two evenings and one weekend per week and will be scheduled based on cast availability. Everyone will not be called to every rehearsal until we get into doing full runs. Rehearsals will take into account summer vacations, so please provide ALL known conflicts on your audition form. Some rehearsals may be held in West Trenton, NJ.

Plot Summary: Set in 1964 New York City, this powerful drama follows a Bronx Catholic school principle (Sister Aloysius) who takes matters into her own hands when she suspects young Father Flynn of improper relations with one of the male students.

MRS. MULLER: mid 30s to early 40s; African-American, mother of Donald Muller (the first black student at St Nicholas). Very realistic and concerned about her son’s future. (May consider double casting this role, depending on actor availability.)

Please prepare one of the following monologues (memorized is preferred). There will also be readings from the script. The director asks that you be familiar with the script.

SISTER ALOYSIUS: (speaking to Sister James) You are a very innocent person, Sister James. William London is a fidgety boy and if you do not keep right on top him, he will do anything to escape his chair, like faking his nosebleed. He would set his foot on fire for half a day out of school. Also, William had a ballpoint pen. He was fiddling with it while he waited for his mother. He’s not using it for assignments, I hope. I’m sorry I allowed even cartridge pens into the school. The students should only be learning script with true fountain pens. Always the easy way out these days. What does that teach? Every easy choice will have its consequence tomorrow. Mark my words. Ball point pens make them press down, and when they press they write like monkeys. Penmanship is dying across the country. While you’re here we might as well have a talk. I observed your lesson on the New Deal at the beginning of the term. Not bad. But I caution you. Do not idealize Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was a good president, but he did attempt to pack the Supreme Court. I don’t not approve of making heroes of lay historical figures. If you want to talk about saints, do it in Religion. Also, I question your enthusiasm for History. I understand that you love it, but that is my meaning. You favor History and risk swaying the children to value it over their other subjects. I think this is a mistake. Give them their History without putting sugar all over it.

FATHER FLYNN:(delivering a sermon) A woman was gossiping with a friend about a man she hardly knew – I know none of you have ever done this – and that night she had a dream. A great hand appeared over her and pointed down at her. She was immediately seized with an overwhelming sense of guilt. The next day she went to confession. She got the old parish priest, Father O’Rourke, and she told him the whole thing. “Is gossiping a sin?” she asked the old man. “Was that the Hand of God Almighty pointing a finger at me? Should I be asking your absolution, Father, tell me have I done something wrong?” (Irish brogue) “Yes!” Father O’Rourke answered her. “Yes, you ignorant badly brought-up female! You have borne false witness against your neighbor, you have played fast and loose with his reputation, and you should be heartily ashamed!” So the woman said she was sorry and asked forgiveness. “Not so fast!” says O’Rourke. “I want you to go home, take a pillow up to your roof, cut it open with a knife, and return to me!” So she went home, took the pillow off her bed, a knife from the drawer, went up the fire escape to the roof, and stabbed the pillow. Then she went back to the old priest as instructed. “Did you gut the pillow with the knife?” he says. “Yes, Father.” “And what was the result?” “Feather,” she said. “Feathers?” he repeated. “Feathers everywhere, Father.” “Now I want you to go back and gather up every last feather that blew out on the wind.” “Well,” she says. “It can’t be done. I don’t know where they all went. The wind took them all over.” “And that,” said Father O’Rourke, “is gossip!” In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen.

SISTER JAMES:(speaking to Sister Aloysius) I’ve been trying to become more cold in my thinking as you suggested ... I feel as if I’ve lost my way a little, Sister Aloysius. I had the most terrible dream last night. I want to be guided by you and responsible to the children, but I want my peace of mind. I must tell you that I have been longing for the return of my peace of mind. I think I’m starting to understand you a little. But it’s so unsettling to look at things and people with suspicion. It feels as if I’m less close to God. I’ve become more reserved in class. I feel separated from the children. But I feel. Wrong.

MRS. MULLER:(speaking to Sister Aloysius) How’s Donald doing? He was upset about getting taken off the altar boys for drinking wine. And that seems fair, but he’s a good boy, Sister. He fell down there, but he’s a good boy pretty much down the line. And he knows what an opportunity he has here. I think the whole thing was a bit much for him. Being the only colored here. He’s the first in this school. It’s a lot for a boy. And his father beat the hell out of him over that wine. You don’t tell my husband what to do. You just stand back. He didn’t want Donald to come here, because he thought he’d have a lot of trouble with the other boys. But that hasn’t really happened as far as I can make out.

On the boards

General information

ACTORS

Langhorne Players is a non-equity theater that welcomes new talent who share a commitment to producing thoughtful and provocative plays of the highest quality. Each season we try to offer a variety of plays with an array of challenging roles suitable for a wide demographic. All casting is done through open auditions supervised by the play’s director. Audition times and dates are posted in advance on our website as well as other area theater callboards.

Rehearsals usually run several hours four days a week during non-business hours for six or seven weeks. Participation in set and prop construction is encouraged but subject to an individual’s schedule and abilities.

If you have a love of acting and an appreciation for thought provoking plays, please consider Langhorne Players. Email us for more information.

Langhorne Players is a non-profit, non-union, all volunteer theater company.

DIRECTORS

Our slate is usually in place by October. Prospective directors are encouraged to read all of the plays in the upcoming season. If you are passionate about a play and would like to direct it, email us. Please indicate which play you are interested in and attach your resume. Interviews will be scheduled for mid-December.

During this interview, the director should share their vision and ideas about the play as well as its production. We look for directors to have a passion for the play and the characters and the story they tell. In addition, directors must be capable of overseeing all aspects of the show including casting, props, costumes, set decoration, sound, lighting, and arranging for a stage manager.

Langhorne Players is a non-profit, non-union, all volunteer theater company.

SET DESIGNERS

SET BUILDERS

STAGE MANAGERS

LIGHTING DESIGNERS

Langhorne Players is a non-profit, non-union, all volunteer theater company.